SUKETU PATEL IS THE NEW PRESIDENT!
The long serving chairman of the local football association, Mr. Suketu Patel, a Chartered Accountant by profession, is the newly elected President of the Council of the Confederation of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA).
Suketu’s close association with the game of football goes back a very long way, since his school days at the then Seychelles College, now the Mont Fleuri Secondary School. Suketu kept goal for the Seychelles College eleven and after qualifying as an accountant from his studies overseas Suketu came back to football in Seychelles. Suketu is known to have been the goalkeeper for Rovers and Rangers football clubs, consecutively. After the regionalisation of sports in Seychelles in the late seventies - Suketu was instrumental in helping set up the Plaisance district football team. He was elected chairman of the Seychelles Football Federation for the first time in 1980 and after a short break from the chairmanship in the early nineties Suketu was again elected chairman of the SFF in 1994; he is still the serving chairman of the local football federation.
Answering questions from the press, earlier in the week, Suketu said that he would have liked to see Cosafa Castle Cup matches played here in Seychelles, but until now it has not been the case. “I believe that with the new mentality in the country right now, we will be able to host Cosafa Castle Cup matches and I will meet with those responsible to talk about the matter. During the elections (COSAFA), those who were against me even asked how I can be Cosafa president when Seychelles does not organise any Cosafa Cup matches.” Suketu said.
‘Suketu’ as he is known in the Seychelles football circles is a very popular and much liked figure locally. His contribution to football locally and regionally has been impressive, especially in the last few years. We wish him well and success in his new position. He is due our total support, for when he succeeds the whole of Seychelles will succeed with him. Good Luck Suketu!
